New England Patriots

Mark Wahlberg ain't buyin' Calvin Johnson's retirement announcement -- saying he hopes the whole thing is just a ploy so CJ can join the New England Patriots.

Wahlberg was out in Bev Hills when a photog broke the news to him about CJ's retirement from the Detroit Lions.

MW's reaction -- "Wow, well hopefully he just did that to get out of his contract with Detroit. Then he'll come to New England and get a ring!"

"He needs a ring! He's too good ... he's got too much left in the tank."

Wahlberg also talked about Peyton Manning -- giving the guy some serious props ... and predicted how much longer his good friend Tom Brady will stay in the league.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft just PRAISED Donald Trump -- saying the guy is one of his closest friends in the world ... but stopped short of an official endorsement.

Kraft -- who supported Obama in 2012 -- issued a glowing statement about Trump to the Boston Globe ... saying he's been a "very close friend of mine for over two decades."

"While I am not comfortable discussing politics publicly, I am very comfortable talking about my friendships with people who happen to be in politics."

Kraft noted the two of them had "a lot of fun together socially, including a very memorable evening in 2005 when I had the privilege of being at his and Melania’s wedding."

But Kraft says the friendship is deeper than partying together ... saying Trump showed his true colors as a friend after Robert's wife Myra passed away in 2011.

"After my wife passed in 2011, he was one of the few people who went out of their way and went above and beyond to assist me through the most difficult time in my life."

"I will always be grateful to him for his thoughtfulness and his continued friendship."

Aaron Hernandez raves about his ex-teammate Tom Brady in a new prison letter obtained by TMZ Sports ... but it's clear, he has nothing but disdain for his former Patriots boss Robert Kraft.

We've verified Hernandez sent the note from the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center on Dec. 10th ... to a female pen pal he'd exchanged letters with in the past.

Aaron -- who's serving a life sentence for murder -- begins his letter on the attack, ripping the woman for criticizing him in her last correspondence ... and suggesting ways she should kill herself.

"Tie a cinderblock to your ankles and jump in a deep body of water," Hernandez writes.

He then suggests, "Buy the most powerful firecracker in the world that's possible to buy, tie it to your face with duct tape, light it and wait for your head to explode."

Hernandez then changes subjects and goes off about his former team -- saying:

"I have a TV in my cell! And yes I still root for my squad and still love all the ones I loved.

The closest I was with was probably Brady and whom I love to death and always will and only hope the best for them. But was cool with Julez, Branch (I f**ked with and got mad love for) and 'the BEST TE ever to walk on a football field' Gronk!"

Hernandez moves from love to hate ... ripping into "fake ass non loyal Kraft who told me he loved me every time he seen me but obviously shows his word ain't sh*t."

Hernandez says no matter what happens to him in prison, he'll continue to support his boys.

UFC superstar Jon Jones says his NFL star brother Chandler Jones is doing well after a bizarre police incident last week ... saying he's just going through the "growing pains" of being a celebrity.

Chandler -- a star defensive end for the New England Patriots -- was hospitalized after dropping to his knees outside the Foxborough PD station in a discombobulated state. He was not arrested.

However, big bro Jon says Chandler has been doing really well since the incident -- telling us, "[He's] a young guy who's had a lot thrown at him" ... including a "new level of fame and success."

Jon says Chandler is now "doing what he has to do to make things right."

"Chandler's in a good position man. I'm so happy for him."

TMZ Sports has learned the Foxborough Police Department is now looking into the crash claims made by Patriots linebacker Darius Fleming ... and as one law enforcement source put it, "It's starting to look like Manti Te'o."

Here's what we know ... the Foxborough PD has no knowledge of a Thursday night crash similar to one described by Fleming -- in which he claims he pulled a woman out of a smoking car after smashing a window.

We're told the FPD has been calling other agencies around the area -- and so far, no one has heard of anything resembling Fleming's tale.

As one law enforcement source put it -- "What he described is not a minor accident. It's definitely something we would have heard about."

The source adds, "Nobody knows what's going on."

We're told cops are looking to speak with Fleming ASAP.

Tom Brady put family before football Sunday night ... heading out to watch his son Benny play in a youth hockey game with Gisele at the same time as the AFC divisional playoff game.

New England Patriots star Chandler Jones was shirtless and acting very strange outside a police station in Foxborough on Sunday ... and cops say they smelled weed at his home in the moments following the incident ... this according to the police report.

Here's how it all went down ... cops say they first noticed Chandler scurrying toward the cops-only back entrance of their station around 7:40 AM in a pair of blue sweatpants with no shirt.

Then suddenly, without warning, cops say Jones dropped to his knees, interlocked his fingers behind his head and began to move slowly toward the ground.

"Honestly, it appeared as if he was actively praying or worshipping," one officer reported.

When cops sprinted toward Jones, he laid down on his stomach with his arms wide out -- and told cops, "I'm Chandler Jones" ... and that he had "been told" to come to the station.

Cops say Jones was unable to provide them with an explanation about why he was there.

Cops ultimately determined he had not broken any laws -- and called paramedics to attend to him.

One of the officers was sent to Chandler's home to grab his keys -- and while there, reported the smell of burnt marijuana in the home.

Robert Kraft used the Patriots' 1st round bye to prove he hasn't said bye to hot GF Ricki Noel Lander ... 'cause the two were spotted at a Golden Globes party together Sunday night ... and all signs point to relationship.

The sighting comes months after reports that 74-year-old Kraft pressed pause on his romance with the 30-something-year-old ... after nearly 4 years together.

But last night, Kraft and Lander looked very much like a couple ... posing for pictures at the HBO after-party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Our sources connected to the couple tell us the two may never have "officially" broken up -- but there was definitely a lull where they weren't seeing each other as much.

Rabid Patriots fan Mark Wahlberg has a tip for his QB and friend, Tom Brady ... do NOT run for public office -- a lesson he might end up learning from Donald Trump.

Mark was leaving The Palm restaurant in Bev Hills when we asked if he thought Brady's backing of Trump might actually sway New England voters.

Check it out ... fair to say, Wahlberg is NOT confident in Brady's ability to close. In politics, anyway.

Ever wonder what Rob Gronkowski's like at 35,000 feet?

The people at JetBlue let Gronk board one of their planes after they became the official airline of the New England Patriots and let him screw around in the cabin.

What ensues is pretty hilarious.

No deflated footballs this time ... but the Pittsburgh Steelers are strongly insinuating the New England Patriots executed a diabolic illegal plan Thursday night to screw Steelers coaches ... involving headsets.

The Steelers coaches claim their headsets were not properly functioning for the 1st quarter of last night's game ... and they're pointing the finger squarely at the Pats.

Here's an article that was posted to the Steelers' official website:

"This is the kind of stuff that happens to the visiting team in Gillette Stadium all the time. From the start of the game through the opening 14 minutes of the first quarter, the Steelers’ coaches’ headsets were receiving the Patriots Radio Network broadcast of the game."

"The broadcast was so loud that the Steelers coaches were unable to communicate, and the NFL rule is that if one team’s headsets are not working the other team is supposed to be forced to take their headsets off."

"It’s what the NFL calls the Equity Rule. Strangely enough, whenever an NFL representative proceeded to the New England sideline to shut down their headsets, the Steelers headsets cleared. Then as the representative walked away from the New England sideline, the Steelers’ headsets again started to receive the Patriots game broadcast."

Here's a bad joke based in truth ... cops are PUMPING UP security at Gillette Stadium for tonight's Patriots game ... over concerns stemming from Deflategate.

Sorry.

But seriously, the Massachusetts State Police Office of Media Relations tells TMZ Sports ... there WILL be an increase in personnel -- explaining, "With everything that's gone on in the off-season, we anticipate the fans will be more enthusiastic, more pumped up than usual ... a little feistier."

We're told the cops will employ the "playoff package" -- which is essentially an additional level of security.

Tom Brady has some big support coming his way after beating Roger Goodell and the NFL in court on Thursday ... but David Ortiz may be the biggest supporter of them all.

As our friends at BSO pointed out ... Papi posted a tweet after hearing the news of Brady's 4-game suspension being lifted ... showing some Boston love after the New England QB was set free.

Shouldn't be surprised by the support ... both Beantown sports legends are no strangers to championships and controversy ... so they definitely have stuff to bond over.

The Patriots cheerleaders' cleavage looks way more impressive today -- the women got draped in serious Super Bowl ice last night ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Patriots sources tell us the cheer squad had a private ceremony Sunday at Gillette Stadium ... where they were presented with massive diamond-encrusted pendants, featuring 4 Lombardi trophies and the team logo.

The back of the pendant is engraved with the very inclusive message, "We are all Patriots."

This is Tom Brady sitting in a Manhattan Federal Court ... trying to get his 4 game NFL imposed suspension overturned.

Tom Brady walked into a NYC courtroom dressed for success in his effort to have his 4 game suspension overturned -- we'll see if it works.

The Patriots QB arrived for the appeal ... tanned like a Greek god, in a sharp blue suit (probably picked out by Gisele Bundchen) with a white pocket square. Meanwhile ... his opposition, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also looked good ... no pocket square though.